JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The 18^th ranked University of Iowa baseball team fell to No. 14 Virginia, 12-9, on Saturday night at 121 Financial Park.

The Hawkeyes raced out to a 6-0 lead before the Cavaliers cut into the deficit with a two run third. The Hawkeyes got a run back in the bottom half, but a five run fourth for Virginia erased the deficit.

Iowa responded with a run in the bottom half and held the lead till Virginia tied it in the seventh. The teams traded runs in the eighth and entered the ninth tied before the Cavaliers scored three to put the game out of reach.

Marcus Morgan got the start on the hill for Iowa, throwing three innings allowing four earned runs while walking five and striking out four.

Anthony Watts struck out nine in 4 1/3 innings of relief. He allowed five runs (four earned) and walked three. Zach Voelker threw 2/3 of an inning allowing one run. Brant Hogue finished out the game allowing two runs, striking out one and walking one in an inning of work.

Five Hawkeyes had multi-hit performances in the contest. Ben Wilmes led the way with a 3-for-5 night. Wilmes tallied an RBI and had a single, a double and a triple in the contest.

Michael Seegers, Sam Petersen, Raider Tello, and Davis Cop each recorded two hits for Iowa. Tello plated two RBIs and Kyle Huckstorf had a three-run home run.

UP NEXT:

Iowa (3-3) concludes action at the JAX College Baseball Classic tomorrow against Wichita State at 11 a.m. (CT).